Tuesday September 8th I was reunited with my family – a glorious reunion and just in time to celebrate Abie Lynn’s 6th birthday on the 9th. We enjoyed the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta as a birthday celebration/field trip for home school. We are living in Birmingham where Shades Mountain Independent Church has graciously provided a missions home for us during our time back in the states. It is a very comfortable home and schoolhouse for us, however, we pray and hope our time here will be brief.
The situation I left behind is much better than when Brooke wrote to you as she and the kids were leaving. It has been resolved outside of a courtroom and a settlement has been signed. This is a good thing and will allow us to move forward much sooner than waiting a year or two for a court case to complete (not to mention
the money that would be spent in legal fees). This is a huge answer to prayer for our family. This settlement will bring peace, resolution, and protection for our family, ministry, and staff, both now and in the future.
As far as our facility in Javillar, we occupy it and are utilizing the building to reach into the community just this week hosting a team of military medics spending some off-time to serve the LORD. We are not sure of the future of this facility, but know that having an orphanage in that building is not a possibility, according to CONANI , the government institution over orphanages. Therefore, we are praying through the possible ministry uses in the future and weighing those against the opportunity to maybe sell the facility and using the proceeds to advance a new site and our “new beginning” in the DR. Please pray with us over this decision as well.
How are we doing? I would say well. We know that nothing that has taken place in the last few months took God by surprise. Although it was difficult, at times frightening, and we would not have knowingly signed up for this, we would not hesitate to do it all over again. Why? Because the Lord has shown himself faithful. He has challenged our faith and drawn us closer to Himself. He has met with our children and they have seen a big and mighty God at work. We know there is a “best for us” at the end of this story as God has promised and we wait for the unfolding of the script. God has used His body to lift us up in prayer, love on us, encourage us in His Word, and be examples of Christ to us. For these things we praise God, and thank you – our partners in ministry. Without all of these things being true I would not be able to say that I feel pity and forgiveness toward Joel. God in this time has brought me from a place of responding in my sin nature to a place of wanting restoration or salvation for him. The difficulties, hurt, rejection, betrayal, and malicious words cast in my and my family’s direction (as well as others involved with the orphanage) are a grain of sand compared to what Christ endured for us! All for what – For grace, the loving forgiveness of a perfect sacrifice that spoke not a word in defense, but only continued in righteousness for the glory of the Father! Who am I to condemn man?
So, where are we now and what are we doing? We will be spending the
next period of time in laying the foundation for moving forward. This means we need a unified plan and the resources to accomplish the plan. We have rented a home $800/month in a secure neighborhood of Puerto Plata – an added expense plus $300 utilities/month.
We still need a vehicle upon our return to the DR, which will be $12K-$15K US..
We will need to purchase a new piece of property to build the girl’s building on in a CONANI in an approved location in Puerto Plata.
We need prayer for everything mentioned in this letter, for a productive time at home, for continued favor in the DR and new ministry partners there, for continued ministry opportunities to surface in the area (I had the opportunity to preach many times in the last few weeks I was there, to lead a Bible study and saw people come to know the Lord as a result – In the midst of the storm God is still using us to serve Him.) Please also pray for a continued strong start to homeschooling for Brooke and the kids. All are enjoying it. Please pray that we stay close to the Lord and enjoy the fellowship of God, family, and friends while we are in the states. I ask that you also remember our staff in the DR that is holding down the fort while we are back here: Diana, Henrietta, Phyllis, Soto, Harry, Antonio and Ramona. And the family of Pastor Johnny Coma – Evelyn his wife and Sammy son 11 years old. They have become dear friends of ours and Johnny died unexpectedly last week at the age of 40. He will be greatly missed as a ministry partner working with visiting short-term teams and a friend. Lastly, I ask you to pray for Joel and his family. His teenage sons and younger 3 children and his wife.
Thanking God for you and your partnership in His ministry to the people of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
In His firm and gracious grip,
Brad, Brooke and the kids
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